Swedish defence prime Saab announced on 2 October that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to address South Korea’s ongoing Airborne Early Warning & Control II (AEW&C II) programme as well as future domestic opportunities.
The MoU, which was signed at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX) by Saab’s Vice President and Deputy Head of Business Area Surveillance Markus Borgljung and KAI’s Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager of Aircraft Program Division Chongho Yoon, calls for industrial cooperation and technology transfer in these respects.
Saab is offering the Bombadier Global 6500 business jet-based GlobalEye AEW&C special mission platform, and has noted that the MoU includes airframe and aerodynamics modifications, system installation, testing and integration, as well as a training and technical assistance package to build domestic competencies.
KAI will then take responsibility for performing future modifications, maintenance and repair of the proposed GlobalEye (AEW&C II) aircraft.
“This MoU between Saab and KAI will increase critical radar technology competence, and create domestic capability and self-sustainability to secure strategic independence for the Republic of Korea in the airborne surveillance segment,” said Borgljung.
Saab also noted that it selected KAI as its industrial partner based on the latter’s position as a leading defence aerospace provider and its extensive experience in special mission aircraft modification, which includes its work on the earlier AEW&C I programme, P-3CK MPA upgrade programme and on-going Baekdu Capability enhancement II programme
“This program will be a stepping stone to expand the cooperative relationship between Saab and KAI, not only for the AEW&C II program but also any subsequent domestic AEW&C program and future special mission aircraft programs in Korea,” said KAI’s Yoon.
“Through the technology transfer, we will strengthen our capabilities for future independent domestic research and development for future Special Mission Aircraft programs,” added Yoon.
Meanwhile, US prime L3Harris has teamed up with Korean Air and Israel’s IAI Elta for the AEW&C II programme, also using a modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jet.
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